Petopiatag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-14292712019-01-18T14:03:00-05:00. . . . all about pets.TypePadPetopiahttps://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with Attensa for OutlookSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with FlurrySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily RotationNever miss the best pet videos, cutest photos and the latest pet news! When you sign up, we'll deliver -- absolutely free -- every post from Petopia. Thank you for visiting us.Places to Visit in 2019 - India's Giant Technicolor Squirrelstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cdd0d53ef022ad3847093200c2019-01-18T14:03:00-05:002019-01-18T14:03:00-05:00AtlasObscura offers intrepid travelers some new and fascinating vacation destinations for 2019. Here is one of them: India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels. If you’re passing below a thick tree canopy in peninsular India and happen to hear a scurrying above you,...TheStarryEye Astrologer

AtlasObscura offers intrepid travelers some new and fascinating vacation destinations for 2019. Here is one of them: India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels.

If you’re passing below a thick tree canopy in peninsular India and happen to hear a scurrying above you, be sure to look up. You might catch a glimpse of a striking squirrel whose fur appears to have been hand-painted with splashes of brown, orange, maroon, and black.

Meet the Malabar giant squirrel, which boasts an all-natural technicolor coat. Also known as shekru, these bright, bushy beauties, which are endemic to India, stretch as much as three feet long—much longer than the eastern gray squirrel and other less-fantastical counterparts.

The patchwork fur may help the squirrels hide up in the sun-speckled canopy, which would be an advantage, because they spend most of their lives up there, scampering among the branches and nibbling on flowers, bark, seeds, insects, and bird eggs. Their feathery, charcoal-colored tails help them balance while they teeter on narrow branches or hang straight down to feast. High above the forest floor, they’re out of many predators’ reach—but if they are startled, though (say, by one of their winged predators, like the crested serpent eagle), they plop down flush against the branches, as though trying to melt into them.

The site is also home to one of India’s 12 jyortirlingas, or shrines, dedicated to the god Shiva. Devotees often flock to the temple during monsoon season—an especially wild time to trek through hills tangled with dense, fog-cloaked forests, and dip a toe into the pools at the base of waterfalls.

The sanctuary was established in the 1980s and has seen the squirrel population grow since. The animals have popped up on endangered species lists, but a census of the furry residents found that their numbers climbed by eight percent in the sanctuary between 2015 and 2016. Researchers surveyed squirrel nests in the nearby mango, coconut palm, and jamun trees and estimated that there were 2,145 individuals bedding down in the branches there. Each squirrel may build as many as eight nests; in 2017, the sanctuary’s census counts more than 22,000 of them.

As an extra boost to the animal’s numbers in the wild, the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Research Centre launched a breeding effort in July 2018. Soon, there may be more of these colorful creatures than ever.

Know Before You Go

The nearest airport and train station are in Pune. Buses depart regularly from Shivajinagar Bus Terminus, but private transportation may be easier if you plan to tack on some impromptu exploring.

Places to Visit in 2019 - Elephant Nature Parktag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cdd0d53ef022ad3ca1eab200b2019-01-03T14:01:00-05:002019-01-03T14:01:00-05:00AtlasObscura offers intrepid travelers some new and fascinating vacation destinations for 2019. Here is one of them: Elephant Nature Park Set in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, Elephant Nature Park provides a sanctuary to rescued elephants from around the country. Originally...TheStarryEye Astrologer

AtlasObscura offers intrepid travelers some new and fascinating vacation destinations for 2019. Here is one of them: Elephant Nature Park

Set in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, Elephant Nature Park provides a sanctuary to rescued elephants from around the country.

Originally founded in 1990, Elephant Nature Park is roughly 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai city, tucked away in the picturesque hills of Northern Thailand. Serving as a rescue and rehabilitation center for elephants from around the country, Elephant Nature Park is—simply put—the ethical way to enjoy the company of a pachyderm when in Asia.

In Thailand, elephant populations have decreased significantly from 100,000 a century ago to now a measly 3,000 estimated elephants remaining. The decline in elephant numbers is namely due to the animals being used for the tourism and logging industries, which subjects these magnificent creatures to harrowing abuse.

For tourists, riding an elephant or purchasing a painting from a pachyderm may seem harmless enough, but it is the “training” techniques used to have the animals perform such feats that are cause for concern. Mahouts—a term for men who work with elephants in Southeast Asia—often subject their animals to barbaric forms of physical abuse to intimidate, scare, and ultimately break the spirit of the elephant.

At Elephant Nature Park, the rescued elephants who arrive at the sanctuary can often come with broken bones, psychological issues, and baring the scars of years of abuse. The silver lining is Elephant Nature Park fights to save these animals and give them a stress-free environment where volunteers can spend time with the elephants in an ethical way.

From feeding the elephants copious amounts of watermelon to walking alongside them as they meander down the river, to simply watching them play in the mud, Elephant Nature Park puts the focus on the wellbeing of its animals. In short, a visit to this sanctuary is how animal tourism should be: putting the animal first.

Know Before You Go

A visit to Elephant Nature Park requires advance booking online. Volunteers have the option of a one-day visit with the elephants, a half-day visit, or a two-day visit with an overnight stay on the property. If timing permits, it is worth spending the night at Elephant Nature Park to truly experience the beauty of this animal sanctuary and catch some extra time with the elephants.

While the main draw of Elephant Nature Park is the elephants, the sanctuary is also home to cats and dogs that have been rescued from around the country. Elephant Nature Park has additional locations in Cambodia, Surin, and Kanchanaburi with different volunteer programs and lengths offered at each par

AtlasObscura offers intrepid travelers some new and fascinating vacation destinations for 2019. Here is one of them: Cat Island.

On the island of Tashirojima in the Miyagi Prefecture, the cats outnumber people, and the people like it that way.

It’s no accident that the cats who inhabit Tashirojima—or what has become known as “Cat Island”—in Japan have come to be the island’s primary residents. Cats have long been thought by the locals to represent luck and good fortune, and doubly so if you feed and care for them. Thus, the cats are treated like kings, and although most are feral because keeping them as “pets” is generally considered inappropriate, they are well-fed and well-cared-for.

Despite this, luck and fortune haven’t exactly come to the human residents of “Cat Island.” In the last 50 years, the human population of the island has dwindled from 1,000 to fewer than 100. As more and more people have shunned the island as it became dominated by felines, the people that have remained have become ever more protective of the cats.

Currently, dogs are not allowed on the island to protect the well-being of the cats—and presumably any dog foolish enough to venture onto an island full of feral cats. There is even a small cat shrine (Neko-jinja 猫神社 in Japanese) in the middle of the island to commemorate an accidentally killed cat.

The cats may end up bringing luck after all, however. Tourism has been picking up as the island has become an attraction for curious travelers, thanks to all of those cats.

Know Before You Go

It can be difficult to find cat food on the island, so if you opt to bring some treats, drop by a convenience store before taking the ferry.

This is not the only cat island in Japan. Another popular spot is Aoshima island in Ehime Prefecture with about 150 cats and about a dozen human residents.

Famous Artists and Their Petstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cdd0d53ef022ad3c61e9d200b2018-12-10T15:51:03-05:002018-12-10T15:51:03-05:00Having a companion can be inspirational as these artists attest. Here is an interesting list of Artists and their pets. From Henri Matisse’s two cats, Minouche and Coussi, to more unique pets like Salvador Dalí’s ocelot, furry companions of all...TheStarryEye Astrologer

From Henri Matisse’s two cats, Minouche and Coussi, to more unique pets like Salvador Dalí’s ocelot, furry companions of all kinds have spurred the creativity of notable visual artists. Below is a list of some of the most prominent artist-pet relationships, and how each contributed to their body of work.

Andy Warhol

Pop artist Andy Warhol grew up with a love of cats and dogs. In the 1970s, Warhol’s boyfriend suggested they get a dachshund, and the two acquired a small dog they named “Archie.” Warhol and Archie soon became inseparable, and he even accompanied the artist on interviews. Warhol would deflect questions to his dog if he didn’t want to answer.

Filmmaker Vincent Fremont, one of Warhol’s friends recalled, “Andy took Archie to his studio, to art openings, and Ballato’s Restaurant on Houston Street… Archie was always on Andy’s lap, eating bits of food that he was handed [and] was always carefully hidden under Andy’s napkin just in case a restaurant health inspector would happen to come by.”

The couple later adopted another dachshund named Amos. In 1976, Warhol unveiled an entire series of cat and dog paintings and drawings, including some of Archie and Amos.

Edvard Munch

Norwegian painter Edvard Munch was known for his intense paintings depicting psychological states, many of which reflected his own anxiety and depression. Perhaps his most famous is his 1893 painting, The Scream.

His dogs, many of whom were terriers, brought him joy. He even took them to the movies with him, leaving if one barked. They accompanied him while painting, and inspired some of his works including his 1930 painting, Head of Dog.

Emily Carr

Emily Carr was a Canadian artist and writer, credited as one of the first painters in Canada to adopt a modernist and Post-Impressionist style. Her paintings were inspired by that of the Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest Coast in the United States, prompted by a trip to Alaska with her sister.

Carr was fascinated by animals, which was detailed in many of her writings. She had parrots, chipmunks, a raccoon, white rats, cats, dogs, and a monkey named Woo. In her 1946 biography, Growing Pains, she writes, “My sister owned a beautiful mare which she permitted me to ride. On the mare, astride as I had ridden in the Cariboo, my sheep-dog following, I went into the woods. No woman had ever ridden cross-saddle before in Victoria! Victoria was shocked! My family sighed. Carrs had always conformed…. Too bad, instead of England gentling me into an English Miss with nice ways I was more me than ever, just pure me.”

In another of her biographical works, Emily Carr and Her Dogs: Flirt, Punk and Loo, Carr compiles 25 fun-loving stories about her dogs alongside 16 illustrations. In it, she discusses raising Old English sheepdogs, harping on the affectionate and loyal nature of her dogs.

Ernest Hemingway

American novelist and short story writer Ernest Hemingway is famous for classics like The Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises, but Hemingway is also remembered for his love of polydactyls, his six-toed cats. After a ship’s captain gifted Hemingway with his first cat, named Snowball, Hemingway was hooked. He owned 23 cats by 1945.

Hemingway named his cats after famous people, and let them roam freely about his house. He fed them generously from cases of salmon and even offered them a mixture of whiskey and milk. His love of cats inspired his creative writing, evident in his 1925 short story titled “Cats in the Rain,” which is said to be inspired by a true story of his wife encountering a stray cat on vacation.

Frida Kahlo

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo had a tumultuous life, riddled with a toxic relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera, depression, and a horrible accident that left her unable to bear children. To cope, she channeled much of her energy into painting and her numerous pets. Of her 143 paintings, 55 of them are self-portraits featuring her animals.

Kahlo’s pets all lived with her at her house, Casa Azul, in Coyoacán. There, she had spider monkeys named Fulang Chang and Caimito de Guayabal. Her 1943 painting, Self Portrait with Monkeys, showcases the comfort she derived from these creatures.

She also had an Amazon parrot named Bonito, a fawn named Granizo, an eagle named Gertrudis Caca Blanca, various parakeets, macaws, hens, a sparrow, and Xoloitzcuintle, which are Mexican hairless dogs. The Xoloitzcuintli breed can be traced back to the Aztecs, and Kahlo was particularly drawn to these animals for their connection to her Mesoamerican heritage. Arguably her favorite pet, Mr. Xolotl, is depicted in Kahlo’s 1949 painting, The Love Embrace of the Universe.

Georgia O'Keefe

American artist Georgia O’Keeffe is best known for her large canvases depicting details of flowers and landscapes of the American Southwest, but she was also particularly passionate about her Chows. After moving to New Mexico, she fell in love with the breed, and got her first dog in 1952. Chows are considered a loyal, protective, and independent breed, which O’Keeffe responded to.

O’Keeffe owned six chows over the course of her lifetime, sketching them, snapping photographs of them, and writing about them to friends and family. She was even a member of The Chow Chow Club, Inc.

Henri Matisse

French painter Henri Matisse led the Fauvist movement with his bold use of color and simplification of form. Much like his friend and fellow artist Pablo Picasso, Matisse was a lover of cats. He was particularly attached to his cats Minouche and Coussi, as well as his black cat named la Puce (the Flea). He even fed them pieces of brioche in the mornings. Though not necessarily the subject of his works, Matisse was inspired by the constant companionship of his pets. While he continued to paint in his old age, he often worked from bed with his cats by his side.

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator, known for his works depicting idealized American culture which included subject matter that depicted scenes from the Civil Rights Movement, America’s war on poverty, and the exploration of space. One of his most famous works, Rosie the Riveter, represented women factory workers in American during World War II, and was widely circulated on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post in 1943.

Rockwell was also an avid dog enthusiast, and often depicted them in his paintings as he felt they were a central part of the American experience. This is evident in his 1926 painting, Boy and Girl Gazing at Moon (Puppy Love). He had many dogs of his own, preferring mutts over purebreds. One of them, Pitter, would accompany Rockwell at his studio while he painted.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was not only an eccentric, celebrated Spanish painter, but also an avid animal-lover and had various dogs of all different breeds throughout his life. His most famous furry companion was Lump, a dachshund who he took everywhere. Picasso’s relationship with Lump was even detailed in a book written by the dog’s original owner, David Douglas Duncan.

Lump was immortalized in many of Picasso’s works. Picasso recreated Las Meninas, a 1656 painting by Spanish Golden Age painter, Diego Velázquez. In the adaptation, Picasso painted abstract renderings of Lump in place of the regal hound seen in Velázquez’s original.

Salvador Dalí

Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dalí was known for his quirky and eccentric personality, donning his signature mustache and producing strikingly bizarre images. It comes as no surprised that the artist had two ocelots as pets. Ocelots, also known as dwarf leopards, are wildcats native to Central and South America.

Babou and Bouba were reportedly gifted to Dalí by the Colombian Head of State. They accompanied him everywhere, even to restaurants where diners were frightening by the exotic animals.

Creating a Pet-Friendly Office Policy: What You Need to Knowtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cdd0d53ef022ad3781d3b200c2018-11-20T14:52:00-05:002018-11-20T14:52:00-05:00Pet Sitters International celebrated the first annual Take Your Dog to Work Day on the Friday following Father’s Day in 1999. The original goals included raising awareness of the human-canine bond so that people without pets would be encouraged to...TheStarryEye Astrologer

Pet Sitters International celebrated the first annual Take Your Dog to Work Day on the Friday following Father’s Day in 1999. The original goals included raising awareness of the human-canine bond so that people without pets would be encouraged to adopt. But as employers and employees realized the benefits of having dogs in the workplace, the event has also played a role in sparking businesses to have pet-friendly policies all year round.

About 300 businesses participated in the first Take Your Dog to Work Day. Now, approximately 20% of U.S. companies have pet-friendly policies year round — and this number doesn’t include coworking spaces that allow pets. Many big name companies lead the pack in pet-friendly office policies, like Google, Amazon, Refinery29, Etsy, and Bark & Co.

Dogs are above and beyond the most common office space companion, so they will be the prime focus of this article, but there are plenty of other potential office pets to consider!

Creating a pet-friendly office should be a carefully thought-out decision. We’ve compiled the top things to consider as well as some pros and cons to keep in mind before opening your office space up to pets.

Urban Resource Institute (URI) Opens PALS Placetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341cdd0d53ef022ad39e3fca200d2018-11-14T14:45:00-05:002018-11-14T14:45:00-05:00The Urban Resource Institute (URI), the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services, opened the country’s first entirely pet-friendly DV shelter of its size, called PALS Place. The shelter is a seven-story emergency shelter in Brooklyn that...TheStarryEye Astrologer

The Urban Resource Institute (URI), the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services, opened the country’s first entirely pet-friendly DV shelter of its size, called PALS Place.

The shelter is a seven-story emergency shelter in Brooklyn that will house up to 100 survivors and their pets. The shelter is specifically designed and outfitted for survivors and their families to heal together with their pets in the same apartment, and includes safe pet play areas, a grooming station, and unique therapeutic programming centered on the human-pet bond (more detail in press release below).

Currently only 3 percent of domestic violence shelters in the United States accommodate pets – yet more than 70 percent of DV victims report their pet was either threatened, harmed, or killed by an abuser. URI is committed to reducing barriers to DV services through inclusive shelter and programming.

With PALS Place, URI’s PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) Program is now offered in a total of six facilities across New York City, providing more than 100 survivor-pet co-living apartments.

PALS Place is designed and outfitted for survivor-pet co-living, providing apartments, dedicated grooming and play spaces, and unique programming to allow people and pets to heal together in safety

New York – October 30, 2018 – Urban Resource Institute (URI), the largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services in the country, today announced the opening of PALS Place, a seven-story emergency shelter in Brooklyn. PALS Place is the first-ever domestic violence shelter of its size in the country specifically designed and outfitted for survivor-pet co-living, providing 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments where up to 100 survivors, whether individuals or families, can heal together in safety with their pets. As an entirely pet-friendly facility, the shelter provides dedicated spaces for pet grooming and play as well as unique animal-centric programming to help residents of all species thrive.

According to research cited by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 70 percent of domestic violence victims report that their pets were either threatened, harmed, or killed by an abuser. However, only about 3 percent of domestic violence shelters in the United States accommodate pets, forcing individuals and families to make the nearly impossible choice of abandoning their pets to enter shelter, or remaining in an unsafe environment and risking further abuse. In fact, 48 percent of domestic violence victims stay in abusive situations rather than leave their pets behind.

“URI’s core mission is to provide compassionate and comprehensive services that benefit all victims of abuse, including historically underserved victims, and reduce barriers to seeking existing resources,” said Nathaniel M. Fields, president and CEO of Urban Resource Institute. “By providing survivors of abuse with co-living options that keep people and pets together, PALS Place marks a significant milestone in URI’s ongoing commitment to addressing service gaps through innovative programming and approaches to ending cycles of abuse.”

URI established the PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) Program in 2013 and began retrofitting existing URI shelters with pet-friendly elements, creating New York City’s first-ever co-living program of its kind. Celebrating five years of PALS, the newly designed and constructed PALS Place represents the next step in URI offering innovative services for New York City’s most vulnerable populations.

Residents – Twice per year, PALS residents will have access to a short-term group session about human and animal healing. Quarterly, residents will be invited to attend recreational activities, such as a facility-wide barbecue or a trip to a local animal shelter. These events will incorporate tips for animal care, information about resources available for pet families in New York City, and introductions to the animal welfare profession. Special guests will be invited to these sessions, including therapy animal teams, professional dog trainers, and other animal care workers.

Survivors and pets living in PALS Place will have access to a dedicated pet grooming room complete with a pet ramp and professional-grade stainless steel tub that can be adjusted to higher and lower levels to accommodate both large and small pets. Periodic visits from groomers and/or veterinarians will be scheduled to provide care for pets in residence.

Children – Animal-focused programming will be integrated into childcare provided at PALS Place. Once per month, PALS staff will join childcare staff to provide educational sessions on safe interactions with animals and how to care for pets. Special guests will be invited to these sessions, including therapy animal teams and local educators. Once per quarter, children will be invited on a field trip into the community to learn about zoo animals, farm animals, and local wildlife to foster an appreciation of the natural world.

Staff – PALS Place will employ over 30 administrative, clinical, and operational staff trained in creating a healing environment that helps adults, children, and pets recover from trauma and prepare for independent living. This includes staff training on animal body language and offering ongoing professional development opportunities like tours of local animal shelters or presentations from animal welfare experts. Every three months, staff will be invited to share their ideas for improving and expanding PALS Place programming via survey. They will provide ongoing support of PALS families, including coordinating free pet medical care courtesy of the ASPCA and identifying pet-friendly housing options for survivors after shelter.

From a construction and architecture standpoint, every aspect of PALS Place is designed to be as welcoming, safe, and healthy as possible for families and pets adjusting to life in the shelter. This includes painting hallways non-white colors that are calming to pets’ eyes and installing Crane Composite Fiberglass reinforced wall panels and in-apartment wainscoting to maintain a durable and hygienic space free of stains, scratches, and smells.

PALS Place also has several communal areas for residents to assemble and engage in recreational and therapeutic activities, including an outdoor rooftop and an indoor recreation space with computers. A community room with a kitchen provides opportunities for residents to socialize, hold celebrations, and participate in educational workshops. Additional amenities for individuals and families include an on-site laundry room and secure outdoor play area for children. Heights Advisors, a community real estate developer focused on strengthening local communities by creating housing with access to social services, was URI’s partner in the construction of PALS Place.

To encourage the exercise, play, and bonding time that is vital to pets’ health during times of transition and stress, an outdoor “Pet Haven” play area is located on the property. The Pet Haven features a play structure and padded grass that creates a safe and resilient playground environment for pets and children alike. PALS supporter Purina will provide each resident with a welcome kit containing pet food, treats, toys, and critical supplies like water bowls, collars, leashes, litter, and litter boxes.

URI first announced the development and construction of PALS Place during a jointly-hosted panel discussion (full video here). The panel included national experts in the domestic violence and animal welfare spaces discussing the often misunderstood role pets play in abusive situations and how to create an ecosystem of services to protect families, individuals, and pets experiencing abuse.

URI’s PALS program now spans six facilities located throughout New York City, providing more than 100 pet-welcoming units for domestic violence survivors and their pets. To date, URI has welcomed over 130 pets into its residences, including dogs, cats, turtles, birds, guinea pigs, lizards, and fish.

For more information about URI’s services and to donate to support the mission of PALS, please visit http://www.urinyc.org.

About Urban Resource Institute

Urban Resource Institute (URI) is a leading non-profit organization that provides comprehensive, holistic, and supportive social services that aid and empower New Yorkers in times of crisis. URI’s programs provide care for survivors of domestic violence, individuals with developmental disabilities, homeless families, and other at-risk populations, allowing them to live in safety and recover from trauma in both residential and non-residential settings. With deep community relationships and a flexible, innovative approach to program development and service delivery, URI is uniquely equipped to provide solutions to the challenges affecting New York City’s most vulnerable populations. URI merged with the Center Against Domestic Violence in 2018, the first licensed provider of domestic violence shelter in New York. With nearly 80 years of combined experience, the organization is the largest provider of domestic violence residential services in the country, with the ability to shelter over 1,000 individuals, including survivors and their families, on any given day. For more information, please visit www.urinyc.org.

About Heights Advisors

Heights Advisors is a community real estate developer, serving as the lead investor for more than $1 billion in real estate projects, and an investment management firm. The firm is currently overseeing more than one million square-feet of ground-up development and residential conversions in New York and Philadelphia.

Pillars of Heights Advisors’ mission is to provide development with social impact, a commitment to strengthening local communities by creating critical housing with access to much needed social services, and engaging with community partners. Heights Advisors is particularly proud of the 41-unit (30 apartment) domestic violence shelter in Brooklyn built from the ground-up for Urban Resource Institute to house people and their pets. It is the first domestic violence shelter of its size in the country built for co-living. The firm is building an expanded animal shelter to house the nonprofit Brooklyn Welfare Coalition’s Brooklyn Cat Cafe.